The Green Bay Packers schedule is out, and with it is Jordan Love's first full slate as starter. If all goes well, Love will win these three games and prove the front office right.
The Green Bay Packers front office has a lot of Jordan Love stock. It all started when they selected him in 2020 despite having a then mid-30's Aaron Rodgers as a starter. That stock only grew in value when Green Bay stuck by Love despite back-to-back MVPs by the incumbent and future Hall of Famer in Rodgers.
Now, having traded Rodgers to the New York Jets after a down year by his standards, the Love era is finally set to begin. Matt LaFleur is confident in what he's seen from the Utah State product so far. His time is now:
"Just watching him last year. I think Jordan's made some huge strides," LeFleur said, via NFL.com. "I really do and I think a lot of it is a credit to Tom, and just, he knows how to train these guys. He knows how to drill them and he's very, very consistent. He doesn't sugarcoat anything. He just is matter of fact and I think there's no doubt."
Those strides will be on fully display early and often for Love. In a wide open NFC North, the Packers have a huge target on their backs.
Packers schedule: Jordan Love must beat the Chicago Bears
Aaron Rodgers owned the Chicago Bears, this much he made obvious. As recently as last season, Rodgers defeated Chicago twice and suggested that his ownership claim remains. Even with the New York Jets, Rodgers stake isn't going anywhere.
So, because of this metaphorical 'ownership', it's all the more important that Green Bay gets off to a good start on the road in Chicago Week 1. The schedule gods gave Packers fans the chance at immediate payoff or despair, depending on how Love looks against Justin Fields and Co.
Sure, the Bears made some improvements this offseason. They surrounded Fields with talented, including former Panthers wide receiver D.J. Moore. Chase Claypool should be healthy to start the year, and Darnell Wright has arrived to protect Fields blind side. It could be the beginning of something special in the Windy City.
But the Packers are more talented, even in their current form. They'll have all of training camp to form a cohesive offense around Love. But if they lose to Chicago Week 1, this could all unravel real quick.
Another important reminder: Aaron Rodgers has a passer rating of 109.0 with 6,965 yards, 64 touchdowns and 10 interceptions in 29 games against the Bears in his career.
Good luck.
Packers schedule: Jordan Love must beat the Detroit Lions
I can't be the only one who remembers how last season ended for the Packers.
Aaron Rodgers and Co. had a chance to make the postseason. All they had to do was defeat the Detroit Lions at home in primetime, and they failed to do so. Detroit played spoiler, completing what for them was an incredibly impressive campaign under Dan Campbell. The Lions are an up-and-coming team in the NFC, and they have postseason aspirations this year. In a wide-open NFC North, Detroit could prevail if things break the right way.
One of those factors will be how they perform against one of the more talented rosters in their division. Green Bay faces off against the Lions at Lambeau in Week 4. It'll be in primetime, only this time on Thursday Night Football. Green Bay has the chance to get the ultimate revenge on Detroit, and in the minds of some prove they made the right decision in moving on from Rodgers in favor of his younger predecessor.
The Lions have a very talented roster, and a veteran quarterback in Jared Goff who will not wilt in the moment. Can Love answer the call?
Aaron Rodgers has a passer rating of 105.1 with 6,551 yards, 54 touchdowns and 12 interceptions in 26 games against the Lions in his career.
Packers schedule: Jordan Love needs to beat the Vikings
Minnesota may have shed a number of veterans from their NFC North-winning roster, but even without Za'Darius Smith and likely Dalvin Cook, the Vikings are a divisional force.
If the Love era is going to look anything like what Packers fans are accustomed to with Rodgers, then the young quarterback must be able to win late-season games against divisional rivals, especially when the North is on the line.
Of course, we don't know what the standings will look like come Dec. 31, but the Pack will be playing on the road at U.S. Bank Stadium. That's a very tough environment even when the Vikes are struggling. Assuming they have a healthy Kirk Cousins, Justin Jefferson and more, Minnesota is likely to be in the mix for at least a Wild Card spot. Ideally, Green Bay will as well.
Winning tight games on the road is often what set Rodgers apart. When the game was literally in his hands, he delivered, especially in the fourth quarter and against these Vikings. Love must do the same and prove his detractors wrong.
Aaron Rodgers has a passer rating of 108.4 with 7,157 yards, 57 touchdowns and 8 interceptions in 29 games against the Vikings in his career.
